Indian Antiquary Vol 08

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 86

66
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(MARCH, 1879.
Raja, and a sentence of banishment was passed Dharmasingh. As in daty bound, howupon him, bat, at Bhoja's intercession, it was over, he still followed his chief wherever he not carried out.
went. One day, the king went to pay his Dharmasingh, thus mutilated and dis- devotions at the temple of Vaidyanath, and graced, was bitterly mortified at the treatment seeing Bhoja in his train, scornfully remarked he had received at the king's hands, and resolved to a courtier, who stood by, that the earth was to be avenged. In parsuance of his determina- full of vile beings; but the vilest creature on tion, he contracted an intimate friendship with earth was the crow, who, though deprived of his one Rådhå Dêvî, a courtesan, who was a last feather by the angry owl, still clung to his great favourite at court. Radha Dévi kept habitation on the old tree. Bhoja understood her blind friend well acquainted every day as the intent of the remark, and that it was to what was passing at court. One day it so levelled at him. Deeply mortified, he returned happened that Radha Dévi returned home quite home and communicated his disgrace to his cross and dejected, and when her blind friend younger brother Pitama. The two brothers asked her the cause of her low spirits, she now resolved to leave the country, and the answered that the king had lost that day many next day Bhoja went to Hammira horses of the vedha disease, and consequently and humbly prayed to be allowed leave to paid little attention to her dancing and singing, andertake a pilgrimage to Banaras. The king and that this state of things, in all probability, granted his request, adding that he might go to was likely to continue long. The blind man Banaras or further if he chose, -that there was bade her be of good cheer, as he would see ere no danger of the town being deserted on his long that all was right again. She was only to account. To this insolent speech Bhoja made take the opportunity of insinuating to the king no reply. He bowed and withdrew, and soon that Dharmasingh, if restored to his former after started for Banaras. The king was dopost, would present the king with twice the lighted at Bhoja Deva's departure, and he number of horses that had lately died. RA- conferred the Kotwalship vacated by him on dhA Dêvi played her part well, and the king, Ratipala. yielding to avarice, restored Dharmasingh 1 Whea Bhoja reached Sirsa, he reflected to his former post.
on the sad turn his affairs had taken, and reDharmasingh thus restored, only thought solved that the wanton insults heaped upon of revenge. He pandered to the king's avarice, him should not go unavenged. In this mind, and by his oppression and exactions reduoed the with his brother Pitama, he went to rayats to a miserable condition and made them Yogin ipura, and there waited upon 'Alau'ddetest their monarch. He spared no one from din. The Muhammadan chief was much whom anything could be got-horses, money, pleased with Bhoja's arrival at his court. He anything worth having. The king, whose treated him with distinguished honour, and treasury he thus replenished, was much pleased bestowed upon him the town and territory of with his blind minister, who, flushed with suc- Jagará as a jahậgir. Henceforth Pitama oess, now called on Bhoja to render an account lived here, and the other members of Bhoja's of his department. Bhoja knew the blind family, while he himself stayed at court. man grudged him his office, and going to the king 'Alå u'd-d in's object was to leam Hamhe informed him of all Dharmasingh's mira's affairs, and he therefore lavished schemes, and applied to him for protection from presents and honours on Bhoja, who gradually the minister's tyranny. Bat Hammir a paid became entirely devoted to the interests of his no attention to the representations of Bhoja, new master. telling him that as Dharmasingh was en- Convinced of Bhoja's devotion to his cause, trusted with full powers, and could do whatever 'Alân'd-din one day asked him, in private, if he thought proper, it was necessary others there were any easy and practicable means of should obey his orders. Bhoja, when he saw subduing Hammira. Bhoj a answered that that the king's mind was turned from him, sub- it was no easy matter to conquer Hammira, mitted to his property being confiscated and a king who was the terror of the kings of Kunbrought into the king's coffers, as ordered by tala, Madhyadeba (Central India). A -